Attributes (An Autumn Fruit In Springtime)
Morgan Van Gele
2 works of 80cm x 80cm
Oil, table salt, candle wax on canvas
Attributes (An Autumn Fruit in Springtime) is a shrine to my desire. It is a shrine to shared history with one of my romantic partners; a portrait of our relationship, as well as a wish, or a spell; a declaration of want.
The devotional diptych form, that of a portable altar, is contrasted somewhat with the choice of materials. These I associate with the home, as carriers of sense memories tied to the domestic sphere. Of all the desires captured in the work, these materials represent the greatest: the desire for mundanity in the face of flux.
Born in Antwerp to two early musicians, I spent my youth immersed in art history. Through exposure to my parents’ repertoire and my study of the church organ I developed a lasting connection to catholic culture.
Following my transition and a years-long struggle with mental illness, I resolved to self-educate as an oil painter. Continued experimentation has lead me to use ever more emotionally resonant materials. My works explore intimacy, connection, sex and devotion. By using history as an integral part of my storytelling, I hint at an inalienable, timeless commonality at the heart of human experience.